Dallas Cowboys Blog

Cowboys have asked the NFL to move up the start of their training camp practices by at least three days

IRVING — The Cowboys have sent a request to the NFL and the NFL Players Association to see if the league will move up the start of their training camp practices by at least three days because of their Sept. 5 season opener at the Giants.

League rules mandate that teams can’t begin training camp practices until 15 days before their first preseason game. The Cowboys’ first preseason game is Aug. 13 at Oakland on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys’ full roster will have the first training camp practice July 30 in Oxnard, Calif. Meanwhile, the Giants’ first full practice is July 27 in Albany, N.Y.

Cowboys quarterbacks, rookies and injured players are scheduled to begin training camp practices at Valley Ranch on July 25 before the team flies to California on July 28.

A ruling has not been made, but the Cowboys don’t anticipate their request being granted by the league considering past requests by teams have been denied.

That means the Giants would have three full practices before the Cowboys are allowed to start even though both teams open their 2012 schedule in the NFL’s season opener Sept. 5, a Wednesday night game on NBC.

“What we have to focus on is what our situation is,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “We can’t worry about what the Giants’ situation is or any of our opponents. We know when we’re going to report to camp and we know when we’re going to play our first preseason game and first regular-season game. That’s all pretty much outlined for us, so we just have to understand what the situation is and as a coach and coaching staff we have to make sure we organize things the right way to get ourselves prepared as we go through camp. We’ll have plenty of time to do that.”